Crisis talks on Ukraine set for Geneva

Senior officials from the United States, Russia, Ukraine and the European Union meet April 17 for talks on the Ukraine crisis, AP reports.

The meeting in Geneva comes with pro-Russian separatists gaining ground in several cities and towns in eastern Ukraine.

Arriving in Geneva, Ukraine's acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchystsya said he would demand Moscow stop supporting "terrorist activities" in his country and pull back its troops from the border.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to speak on April 17 at an annual question and answer session with citizens, which analysts say could signal how far he intends to go in Ukraine.

Kyiv says the uprising is basically the same as the seizure of Crimea, where armed pro-Russian partisans also occupied buildings, declared independence and proclaimed themselves in charge of state bodies.